From Project Runway to the Real Way

Do those brilliant (and sometimes not so brilliant) designs from the fashion design program Project Runway ever actually amount to anything? They do if you're season four's contestant and fashion career hopeful Angela Keslar.

Angela was challenged, along with other season four contestants, with designing an outfit for INC International Concepts Fall 2006 collection. The winner of this clothing design challenge would see their design manufactured by and sold at Macys.com and select Macy's stores. Angela was the winning fashion designer with her urban chic design consisting of a cropped jacket, ruched tee, and high-waist trousers, all military inspired. The trousers and jacket are a gunmetal grey, and the ruched tee is available in grey or pink. Also available for the die-hard Project Runway fan is a white INC International Concepts Project Runway logo tee featuring the sketch of Angela's winning design.

According to sources, Angela's original sketch of the design is a bit different from the finished product you can get at Macy's. For instance, the original jacket was leopard print. It's also rumored that the ruched tee started out as a lace tank. Her concept was inspired by the Empire state building.

Angela had input from her teammates -- a very smart move for any fashion designer. The spirit of collaboration is a must for anyone who is striving for a fashion career. Apparently, Angela loves working with rosettes -- much to the chagrin of her team members. While Angela swears by her rosettes, one of her competitors calls them "granny circles." After mocking laughter and a temper tantrum or two, the team was able to reach a compromise, allowing a few small grey rosette buttons in their design. This is what it's like when you have a fashion career; compromise and collaboration.

About the AuthorKristin Marino is obsessed with haute couture, even though she lives in Reno, Nevada, where you can't even get Gucci or Louis Vuitton, let alone Jimmy Choo. She has a Bachelor of Art in English Composition from the University of Nevada.

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